Another great effort by the boys today, saw us even with table toppers Beachlands. My usual theory is if you come from behind to draw you gain a point, but if your winning and draw you loose two. Well thats what happened today, another draw and 2 points down the gurgler. The team was a little mixed today as fee payers were the first included in the line up, so we had to mix it a bit. We're a little fortunate as there are a good few of our players can play anywhere when asked, and do a great job.
Before the kick off there were comments of being a little apprehensive as the opposition (average age about 20) hadn't been beat this season and were out there practicing from about an hour before kick off.
Coaches comments were, dont even worry about where they are in the league, if we play like we know we can we'll match anyone.
Well they might have had it easy so far, but they were in for a surprise today.
Pukekohe started well some good interchanges around midfield, neat play and the first chance after some good work by Jamie Rumbold on the right, Adam Moorhouse sprung the offside trap, which was fairly average to say the least and hit the bar from close range, the ball rebounding out to Liam Mcdonald and with a great leap headed just over the bar.
This Pukekohe team over the last two weeks has instilled some belief and with a little luck can go places.
Next some great work down the right again from Jamie Rumbold and the space opens up after a great run to have a go, he hits the target, the keeper parries it and upstep Adam moorhouse to knock in the rebound.
1 - 0 Puke, we were all over them, a great poachers goal, in famous words from last week, "A lesser man would never have been there."
Then totally against the run of play, Beachlands earned the right to take a corner, they had 1 big fella who could head the ball, and we forgot to mark him. Great header (nearly as good as Nick Rowe's own goal the other week).
Right Puke back into it, some neat play down the left by Richie and Liam, creating opportunities for Nick, unselfishly putting Adam through but to no avail. To be honest it was all us, there was great defensive work from Andy Bell and Maddison Reid keeping there quick strikers at bay and also having the ordacity to play the ball, back through the midfield.
Ali and Eflan worked hard all day and made some great ground and hard tackles much of which they came out with the ball, also managing to set other players up. Great stuff!
Then Thomas Sutcliffe came on to strengthen the midfield with a bit more youth and pace and had some good exchanges down the right.
Then wait for it A SPECTACULAR EFFORT - the ball was half cleared by the Beachlands defence, Ali picks the the ball up, thirty five metres out, takes one touch and as the ball bounces hits a special effort from 35 yards which gives the beachlands keeper no chance and flies in the top corner. If you saw Ronaldos freekick last Wednesday it had nothing on this. (Ali judging by that you must be worth 200,000 pound per week, at least.) In words of a famous commentator "Fortune favours the Brave!!"
We had much of the play and should have won, it will come and shouldnt be far away.
Into the second half, still playing with great comitment and conviction with some nice football thrown in, inbetween. Then Beachlands managed to track down the right and their winger, about 2 yards from the our dead ball line, let fly - not sure if it was a shot or a cross, Colin yelled for Liam to leave it, he did and snuck in by the near post, a little quicker than expected by our keeper. 2 - 2, not again........bloody hell........... But we dug in hard kept on fighting and thats the way the game ended. In words of Edmund Blackadder, "Once more Fortune vomits on my Idadown".
From the coaches perspective, defence looked solid and coped with the young attacking force admirably. Great work in midfield by Efran and Ali who were both in the running for player of the Day. Good running up front from Adam and some good unselfish work from Nick. The boys outside created some good room for the midfield to play. Another good display from Colin Peg between the sticks. All in all GREAT EFFORT !! and roll on next week for our 2nd trip to Ellerslie, this season.
Player of the Day today goes to Ali, for lots of hard work and a goal Alfonso Alves would have been proud of, but then he'd be proud of any, ask Gareth Southgate...........
Next week sees us away to Ellerslie.
Final Score: Pukekohe 2 Beachlands 2
Next Fixture: Away v Ellerslie, Saturday 16th May (kick off 1:00pm)